Robert Bruntil

Bellingham, Washington

I have been reading and writing haiku for thirty years. I started to read poetry when I was in psychotherapy, as a young man, looking for models of passionate men. One of my early favorite poets was Gary Snyder, whose poetry of his time at fire lookouts in the Northwest mirrored some of my own experiences in the backcountry. He connected me with ancient Japanese and Chinese poetry, which led me to Basho, Issa, and Buson. I read poetry every day, and write haiku and linked forms often.